Hello again,
Before I take my oar back I thought I would add this to flick40's comment, sorry mate, but the bit about French cavalry enjoying a reputation for having superior cavalry up until 1707ish is wrong as the Duke of Marlborough leading his famous cavalry charge put paid to this at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.It is also said that Tallard was taken back on witnessing the eight squadrons of Gendarmerie first recoil and then rout due to Palmes charge of five English squadrons.
If I might take a quote from Iain's book "The Gendarmerie had just recovered from driving off Rowe's assault on the village of Blenheim when Zurlauben realised that Palmes squadrons were isolated.He ordered them to charge even though they had not yet fully reformed.The eight squadrons moved off, and as they gathered speed, threatened to envelop the English horse.
As they came to within pistol shot, the Gendarmerie halted and discharged a volley.
This did little damage and only served to slow their momentum.Palmes reacted by ordering his wing squadrons to swing outwards, whereupon all five squadrons charged forward.
The result was that eight of the finest squadrons in Europe at first recoiled and then broke."
By this it seems the French were still using the old tactic of halting short and using their pistols before charging home where as the English were when charging, galloping in with sabres drawn.
Hope this helps.............Ray.